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The race for the A-League minor premiership will go down to the wire with Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory set to fight it out in next Sunday’s blockbuster match at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Sydney’s 3-2 win over Perth Glory at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday, and Gold Coast United’s 1-0 loss at home to Wellington has left a two-horse race for a top-of-the-table finish and guaranteed Asian Champions League qualification.
A win for Sydney will see them finish the home-and-away season in top spot, while a draw would be enough for the Victory to claim a record third minor premiership.
Striker John Aloisi, Sydney’s two-goal hero on Sunday, said it was a match he and his teammates had been dreaming about all season.
“It’s a massive game,” Aloisi said.
“We knew that today (against Perth) was the big game because if we only got a point, next week wouldn’t count for much, we would have been playing for thiurd place.
“But now next week’s going to be even bigger.
“We’re expecting a huge crowd and there’s everything to play for.
“We can’t wait, this is what every footballer wants, to play a big game and next week will be a huge one for us.”
Gold Coast can still hope for a two-two finish, which guarentees a double chance in the finals, if they win their final-round match against North Queensland and Melbourne beat Sydney.
The rest of the finals contenders will be simply jostling for position after the top six was settled over the weekend.
Adelaide’s 2-0 win over Brisbane on Saturday meant the Roar could not reach the top six, leaving the Phoenix, Glory and Newcastle safe in the knowledge they will be playing finals football.
North Queensland’s hopes were killed off in a 2-0 defeat to the Victory on Friday night while the Mariners, whose home match against the Jets on Saturday was rained out and rescheduled for Monday night, are also out of contention.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast United chairman Clive Palmer has until the end of Monday to explain comments he made last week following the suspension of Steve Pantelidis.
Palmer has been asked to explain his comments by Football Federation of Australia (FFA) after he accused the governing body of corruption and not wanting his club to host the grand final.
Run to the A-League finals for teams still in contention on Sunday:
1. Melbourne Victory (47pts , +17) – Sydney FC (a)
2. Sydney FC (45, +10) – Melbourne (h)
3. Gold Coast United (44, +5) – North Queensland (a)
4. Wellington Phoenix (37 ,+5) – Central Coast (h)
5. Perth Glory (36, +4) – Brisbane (h)
6. Newcastle (34, -8) – Central Coast (a), Adelaide (h)
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Mr said | February 8th 2010 @ 7:35am | Report comment
Going to be an interesting match in Sydney next weekend. I wonder how many couples will spend their Valentines Day at the football?
Lu said | February 8th 2010 @ 8:14am | Report comment
One word.. Massive
Never has a Melb v Sydney football match meant so much.. Probably a good thing muscats suspended..
Punter said | February 8th 2010 @ 8:16am | Report comment
The first real Sydney v Melbourne rivalry in any sport is starting to develop very nicely.
Mr, yes I’ve asked my lovely wife to the football this weekend.
Lets all hope Sydney does a real job on Melbourne.
I’m all for finals football, but this is the true final to me.
Marcel said | February 8th 2010 @ 8:21am | Report comment
Rumour is the SFS is in such poor state after the Military tatoo that the game may have to be shifted….anyone know anything further on that?
Simmo said | February 8th 2010 @ 2:05pm | Report comment
rumour control on SFCU suggests that the game will go ahead at the SFS
Dogz R Barkn said | February 8th 2010 @ 8:25am | Report comment
This fixture must just about have the record for the most nil-all draws.
Punter said | February 8th 2010 @ 9:06am | Report comment
In 5 seasons with 1 game to go, 14 games, 4 nil-all draws, not that bad. maybe your best memory of it was the 50k crowd & the last match, which both ended in nil all draws. 1 nil all draw from 3 games a season apart from first season.
Bring it on, can’t wait.
Dogz R Barkn said | February 8th 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Thanks Punter for the clarification.
The thing is, this is precisely the sort of situation likely to bring out a bit of caginess in both clubs (as often happens in such games).
But, it has to be said:
1. Melbourne probably aren’t to used to playing a “containment” game; and
2. SFC really have nothing to lose, and should go for it.
On the flip side, my uneducated observation is that SFC play very much a counter-attacking style, so if the Victory hold back on their attacking instincts, it might give SFC very little to play with.
Simmo said | February 8th 2010 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
Historically the rate for nil-nil draws is 1 in 10. So 4 out of 14 is pretty unusual.
Only a win for Sydney FC is acceptable.
FTT
Footbal Person said | February 8th 2010 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Awesome the way things have turned out, I have been hoping for this for like 1 1/2 months.
I’m tipping Sydney to be roared home by 29000 of their fans ( Booed by the large amount of traveling BWB )
Ghost said | February 8th 2010 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
I am totally salivating.
Parra Stadium game was good but this weekend will be something else.
The most important domestic game – of any code – in Australia over the last 12 months.
3-1 to Sydney and here we come Asia…
MV Dave said | February 8th 2010 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
2-2 as per 2006 at SFS with another 34,000 crowd and Carlos, the Jackal, scoring from a free kick in the 92nd minute